Albert Edward Ismail Yelda

Albert Edward Ismail Yelda (b. 1959 Ramadi, Iraq [ [http://catholique-belfort-montbe.cef.fr/pratique/archives/2004/actu_pape_irak.htm accueil ] ] ) is currently Iraq's ambassador to the Vatican. Yelda, an ethnic Assyrian, belongs to the Ancient Church of the East. Prior to the United States-led 2003 invasion of Iraq, Yelda dedicated himself to the legal counsel and assistance projects for the Iraqi immigrants in London, England from 1987 until 2003, where he finally returned to Iraq.

During his time in London, Yelda co-founded the anti-Baath organization the Iraqi Liberation Coalition with friend Ayad Allawi.

In early 2004, he was appointed as Iraq's 14th new ambassador to the Vatican. In Novermber 2004, Yelda meet with the late Pope John Paul II and talked about the situation of the Christian minority in Iraq.

Yelda has meet twice personally with Pope Benedict XVI as of now. Once in a visit on May 12, 2005 in the Vatican and September 25, 2006 where he joined other diplomats from the Arab league and other muslim countries to find peace after the Pope's controversial comments, which has led to further persecution of Iraq's Christian minority.

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